Microsoft Entra ID Governance is the part of Microsoft Entra that controls who gets access to resources — and when that access should automatically be removed.
If Entra ID handles authentication (sign-in), and Intune manages devices, Entra ID Governance manages access lifecycle.
It solves a very specific problem:
People often keep access to systems long after they should.
This includes:
Entra ID Governance automatically manages access approvals, reviews, and removals across Microsoft 365 and connected apps.
Why This Matters to Admins
In most environments, access permissions grow over time.
Users are added to:
- Teams
- SharePoint sites
- security groups
- applications
But they are rarely removed.
This leads to:
- data exposure
- audit failures
- cyber-insurance issues
- insider risk
The biggest real-world security risk in Microsoft 365 is not hackers. It is excessive permissions. Entra ID Governance exists to fix that.
What Entra ID Governance Actually Does
It automates identity lifecycle management using policies instead of manual administration.
Core capabilities include:
Access Packages
A user requests access → it is approved → permissions are automatically granted.
Access Reviews
Managers or system owners must regularly confirm users still need access.
If they do nothing → access is automatically removed.
Entitlement Management
Users get a bundle of access (Teams, apps, SharePoint sites) in one request instead of IT manually assigning everything.
Lifecycle Workflows
Automatically:
- onboard new users
- give required access
- remove access when they leave
Access Reviews (The Most Important Feature)
Access Reviews periodically ask:
“Should this user still have access?”
Reviewers can be:
- managers
- group owners
- application owners
If the review is ignored, Entra can automatically remove access.
This is extremely important for:
- guest users
- shared Teams
- finance/legal data
- sensitive SharePoint sites
Entitlement Management (Access Packages)
Access Packages allow IT to create a single request that grants multiple permissions.
Example:
New Finance contractor requests:
“Finance Access”
Automatically receives:
- Teams membership
- SharePoint access
- application access
- correct security group membership
When the contract ends → access expires automatically.
No manual cleanup required.
Lifecycle Workflows
Lifecycle workflows automate joiner-mover-leaver processes.
For example:
New employee starts:
- account created
- licenses assigned
- Teams access granted
Employee leaves:
- sign-in blocked
- sessions revoked
- access removed
This replaces HR → IT manual tickets.
Licensing Fundamentals (This Is the Important Part)
This is where admins often misunderstand Entra ID Governance.
Licensing is not based on who configures it.
It is based on who benefits from it.
A license is required for:
Any user whose access is governed by:
- access reviews
- entitlement management
- lifecycle workflows
Includes:
- internal employees
- contractors
- guest users (B2B)
License required:
Microsoft Entra ID Governance (part of Entra ID P2)
Included in:
- Microsoft 365 E5
- Enterprise Mobility + Security E5
Guest Users (Very Important)
Guest users DO require licensing when governed by access packages or reviews.
However Microsoft provides a ratio benefit:
You receive 5 guest governance users per 1 licensed internal user.
Example:
50 licensed employees → 250 governed guest users allowed.
This is specifically designed for organisations collaborating externally.
Common Licensing Mistake
Admins license only IT or administrators.
That is incorrect.
If 300 users are in an access review → 300 users require licensing.
Even if they never log into the Entra portal.
What This Actually Means in a Real Tenant
After implementing Entra ID Governance:
- guest users expire automatically
- contractors lose access automatically
- users changing departments lose old permissions
- audits become significantly easier
Most importantly:
You no longer rely on memory or manual processes to remove access.
Security becomes automated.
When You Should Use It
You should deploy Entra ID Governance if you:
- use Microsoft Teams heavily
- collaborate with external companies
- must meet ISO/NIST/Essential 8 requirements
- handle sensitive data
- have staff turnover
- have contractors
It is particularly valuable for organisations with many guest users in Teams or SharePoint.
How It Fits Into Microsoft Security
Microsoft security works in layers:
- Intune → device trust
- Entra ID → authentication
- Defender → threat detection
- Governance → access control over time
This completes the Zero Trust model:
Not just verifying who you are,
but also verifying whether you should still have access.
Overall Notes
Microsoft Entra ID Governance automates access permissions in Microsoft 365.
It:
- grants access properly
- reviews access regularly
- removes access automatically
The biggest risk in modern cloud environments is not authentication failure — it is excessive permissions.
Entra ID Governance ensures users only keep access for as long as they actually need it.
